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Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:19 pm
by Colonel Panic
Has anyone installed a Zappi home EV charger? It looks a bit like my Solar iBoost widget that diverts what would otherwise be exported solar electricity to the hot water tank, but the Zappi diverts it to the EV charger. On the face of it it looks very good, if you have solar or wind generation.

Moving on from this I got to think about the relative values of EV consumption and solar generation; I get the impression that (ignoring a 13A plug charge), 7kW charging is sort-of the base input amount for home charging. We have 16 solar panels that top out at just under 4kW output, so a Zappi would only ever be able to put a pretty paltry amount of "free" electricity in to an EV. :(

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Sun Mar 17, 2019 8:24 am
by malcolmfrost
Ovo energy, I believe, have a smart charger that enables the car battery to be used to supplement either your home consumption, or to help smooth load on the grid. You set how much you want to leave available for driving. With current ranges it would be useful to take you more off grid if you have solar.

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Sun Mar 17, 2019 8:48 am
by Colonel Panic
Your comment made me look at the Tesla Powerwall again; I _think_ I am right in saying that one unit can store 13.5 kWh of usable energy, at a cost of £6,200 each (plus fittings @£1,700).

At that rate, one would almost be better off buying a Renault Zoe with a 42 kWh battery inside and taking the wheels off 8)

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Sun Mar 17, 2019 8:55 am
by PaulB
Could you not just lease the battery without the Zoe :shock:

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Sun Mar 17, 2019 9:05 am
by Leodisflyer
Colonel Panic wrote:Your comment made me look at the Tesla Powerwall again; I _think_ I am right in saying that one unit can store 13.5 kWh of usable energy, at a cost of £6,200 each (plus fittings @£1,700).

At that rate, one would almost be better off buying a Renault Zoe with a 42 kWh battery inside and taking the wheels off 8)


If you take it to a Liverpool they’ll even do that conversion work for free.

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Tue Mar 19, 2019 6:40 pm
by Paul_Sengupta
Colonel Panic wrote:7kW charging ... solar panels that top out at just under 4kW


It's also a bit flummoxed in that most people's cars would only be at home charging overnight... ;-)

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Mon Apr 15, 2019 10:19 am
by malcolmfrost

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Wed May 08, 2019 10:46 am
by Colonel Panic
Rob P wrote:No idea what the reality behind the towball issue is. But I can't believe the non-towing issues won't be addressed in short order.

I see that an "official" tow hook has just been announced for the Model 3 in Europe; but at a max rating of only 910 kg it will only be of use to fit a bike rack or to take grass clippings to the local tip. Shame it can't do towards ~2,000 kg and then it would become very useful.

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Wed May 08, 2019 10:52 am
by malcolmfrost
You don't need to tow a caravan!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF3jC4uV4ZA

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Wed May 08, 2019 10:56 am
by Colonel Panic
:D

Hmmm, that solution is only really appropriate for petite (& short) people from the Far East; not sure the likes of me would fit in there! (Nor would I want to, mind :shock: ).

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Wed May 08, 2019 11:02 am
by malcolmfrost
She did say her Thermarest is 6 ft long but probably not for me either!!
:D

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Wed May 08, 2019 11:11 am
by stevelup
Colonel Panic wrote:
Rob P wrote:No idea what the reality behind the towball issue is. But I can't believe the non-towing issues won't be addressed in short order.

I see that an "official" tow hook has just been announced for the Model 3 in Europe; but at a max rating of only 910 kg it will only be of use to fit a bike rack or to take grass clippings to the local tip. Shame it can't do towards ~2,000 kg and then it would become very useful.


Here you go:-

http://beauer.fr/fr/

This thing is amazing :)

I'm sure they could shave 40kg off it.

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Wed May 08, 2019 12:33 pm
by morticiaskeeper
My trailer tent only weighs 450kg loaded :-)

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Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Wed May 08, 2019 1:35 pm
by Flyin'Dutch'
Are you Dutch?

Re: So, I just bought another one (LEAF)

PostPosted:Wed May 08, 2019 3:03 pm
by Colonel Panic
My views on caravans align strongly with those of Jeremy Clarkson, and have never slept in one, but even I could be tempted by some of the new "teardrop" caravans. They almost look quite cool / fun.